Hi england43
Sorry to hear about your menopausal symptoms and other health issues, and I really sympathise with anyone who cannot take HRT due to medical reasons, because the journey is so much harder..
Firstly are you using a local vaginal oestrogen such as Vagifem or Orthogynest pessaries? This will help prevent vaginal atrophy and well as bladder and urinary problems which can develop and worsen post-menopause. This is unlikely to be contra-indicated with the condition you describe although you will be able to tell from this list re Vagifem
Contra-indications
Previous or current venous thromboembolism (deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism)
Active or recent arterial thromboembolic disease (e.g. angina, myocardial infarction)Those are the only heart conditions mentioned where Vagifem wouldn't be recommended.
Rgearding boron and other mineral supplements - I agree with silverlady that it is so important not to be deficient in any minerals and vitamins especially at this time of our lives.
I can imagine if your diet is low in boron and other minerals and you are deficient - then the benefits described in the link silverlady gave will be apparent very quickly. However the very small (12 women!) published study here
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3678698concludes this:
The findings suggest that supplementation of a low-boron diet with an amount of boron commonly found in diets high in fruits and vegetables induces changes in postmenopausal women consistent with the prevention of calcium loss and bone demineralization.Also as she points out - you can supply sufficient boron ( and other minerals) for your metabolic needs through diet as she has listed below. I do think that a change in diet to a very healthy one with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, pulses, low in fat and limiting processed foods can reap benefits, which is what the advice on this website says:
"Taking a balanced, healthy diet will provide the vitamins and minerals required and is the best way to stay healthy""Most women taking a healthy well balanced diet obtain sufficient vitamins and minerals required and do not need to take supplements"on this page which lists the main vitamins and minerals and what they do in the body.
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/diet.phpI follow the advice on this site, so personally I don't think it is necessary for most women to take a supplement for every vitamin and mineral - provided your diet does contain the foods suggested, but for instance concentrated juices and oils etc can greatly increase individual vitamins and essential fatty acids. But of course it's up to you to read up about everything and decide yourself. Sounds like you are already doing the right thing.
I would recommend pure cod liver oil (Seven Seas original with no added vitamins) unless you eat plenty of oily fish. I prefer to have this than the high strength capsules because you get more of the oil and less of the added vitamins.
Great that you were doing pilates - I have recently started this and it is amazing for all sorts of conditions - it is so gentle but strengthening at the same time - for lower back, internal muscles, joints and rotation - so do keep this up!
I can't help re the flushes - but I am sure there are others who have ways of coping with these to make them less unbearable.
Re your mum - do your sisters live nearby and can they not take their share of caring for your mother which I can inagine must be very tiring at that amazing, but advanced age? If you are suffering, you need a break too, especially so that when you do have to care for your mother you are well rested and able to give the energy required.
Hope this helps and do keep posting and remember you are not alone in this.
Hurdity x